If there was a magical portal into the mind of anyone, through whose eyes would you want to see the world?

Wow. I was pondering over this exact question over the weekend, and I asked almost everyone I saw over the course of Saturday and Sunday for their opinions. So...*rewinding back*...here are my seven people that I would virtually give anything in my possession to be for a day. : )

MONDAY:

To kick start an awesome week, I would spend *half* my day as the incredibly bright and quirky author Jodi Picoult. I went through a creative writing phase, during which I was addicted to her novels, and their captivating plots, teetering climaxes, unexpected endings, and altogether heartfelt morals. I am so truly and intensely impressed by how she can brainstorm and weave intricate stories out of thorny topics, so to see through a casual incident, an everyday occurrence (that most take for granted) through her eyes would be fascinating. And I know this is cheating, but I would love to spend the other half of my day as the incredibly talented poet / writer / performer / teacher / director Maya Angelou. I learned a great deal about the hardships in her life through her autobiography "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (as per your recommendation!) and her recent novel "Letter to My Daughter", which is so truly inspirational that I can't help but muse the kind of insight, experience, and wisdom she has.

TUESDAY:

I think the greatest person ever to live was Helen Keller, and as a woman who was blind, deaf, and virtually had every right to give up and destine herself to a life of worthlessness and and waste, to say that she truly challenged the society's standards of determination and courage would be an understatement. I just checked out her autobiography "Story Of My Life" which I plan to read immediately. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to not be able to see the immensely beautiful sunrise and gorgeous spring flowers in full bloom, or the sound of children laughing on a playground, and a heartfelt poem being read to you. I want to see life in her perspective, and to recognize what drove her to accomplish all she accomplished; what enabled her to have such a brightly beautiful mindset despite all the difficulties she encountered in life.

WEDNESDAY:

Hey, would it be fair to peer through the eyes of two people, who are often within a few rooms from each other? I think American politics and affairs are in much better hands than they were over a year ago, and my first temptation was Barack Obama, a man who people often take jabs at without truly and deeply understanding the mess that he landed in when he was first inagurated. Rome wasn't built in a day, but some people still believe that the President is "taking his sweet time" trying to navigate us toward a hopeful future, when in reality it is so much harder than it looks. I commend President Obama for his efforts, but in actuality he's not the one that I would see through. I'd pick Michelle Obama because I think she is an incredibly cultured, well-spoken, and graceful First Lady; as well as Hilary Clinton, who I admire for her wit, intelligence, and initiative.

THURSDAY:

Of all the stereotypical geniuses of the world -- Einstein, Beethoven, Picasso -- I pick Mozart. I absolutely love his music, and find it compelling, inspiring, and simultaneously difficult to listen to and understand. At the moment, I'm kind of lagging when it comes to my own piano playing at the moment, and through his eyes, I want to embrace a new perception of music, and to cherish, appreciate, and empathize with melodies as he did.

FRIDAY:

Friday calls for a little "you" time, and I'd reflect on this particular day over my past days' experiences, and write about it so these memories don't simply come off after one wash. I love my English teacher, and she has honestly taught me more about appreciating the language than anyone else, and has perpetually encouraged me to embrace my strengths in a variety of ways. Like me, I think she's a bit of a dreamer (a bit like a future version of me), and I would see life in her perspective, which would be incredibly enlightening. : )

SATURDAY:

Almost the end of my week! My choice today is a no-brainer. Not to be cheesy, but you, Lark, have (as many others have mentioned as well) inspired, motivated, and molded a great deal of who I am now. It's truly a gift that I've had the privilege of meeting you on Y!A, and you continue to amaze me in so many ways. So I can't resist, I think it would be fabulous to be you for a day, and to know how it feels to paint, dance, sing, write, and live as you do. : )

SUNDAY:

My last day...wow. I'm a bit weepy with nostalgia at this point, but today is definitely going to be worthwhile, because I'm spending it with the person I loved most in this universe, my grandma. She passed away when I was around 5, so my memories of her are blurred, but I see and pray for her every day. My mom keeps her picture in a beautiful frame and I smile every time I see her angel face. There is nothing I want more than to spend a day in her perspective, in her difficult life, being the golden-hearted and brave woman she was, who taught me more about love and life than anyone else.

And, at the end of this eventful week, I would flop down on my bed, and feel happy that I'm me. : )

(((((Damienne)))))

~ Francesca

Wow this is a really good question! I have have to be honest and say that seeing the world from the perspective of any great person in history for just one day would be a huge tease for me! I'm gonna break the rules a bit. I pick one person, but I want to see things through his eyes for his entire campaign, 16 yrs or so. Also when I come out of my coma I want only one week to have passed lol.

The Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca, who is regarded as probably the greatest military mind in history. It would be amazing to see first hand how this man was able to motivate and lead all those men, mostly mercenary soldiers with no loyalty to Carthage, to do such great things. Rome's organized society and seemingly unlimited resources were ultimately able to save them in the long run. Rome became Rome when they won that war. Had Hannibal and Carthage prevailed western civilization would without a doubt be much different today.

Great question as usual, Skylark!

I'm just going to give a list - if I give the reasons, I will never finish this answer.

This is historical, right? If this was fictional and nonfictional, I'd go mad trying to name everyone.

(no particular order)

Buddha

Jesus

Einstein

Dave Barry

Cate Blanchett

Eve White/Black/Jane from 3 Faces of Eve

Mohammad

Barack Obama

A random angel, preferably one who knew the future

JRR Tolkien

CS Lewis

Libba Bray

Jane Austen

Julius Caesar

Emily/Charlotte Bronte

Victor Hugo

Alexandre Dumas

(I'm going to name authors all day)

Oscar Wilde

William Shakespeare.

Can't think of any more for the present, you are all lucky I can't, :D

Luthien

So many amazing people in this world, it would take forever to name them all.

this question is so awesome i cant even express my joy. *star* for you, bright one! well i'm so brain dead right now so I'll mention a few

in no particular order (because perhaps one of them despised mondays)

Beethoven

JFK

Ghandi

John Malkovich (this one speaks for itself)

my maternal grandparents

Hellen Keller

Gabrielle Chanel

Athena the goddess of wisdom

Susie Salmon from The Lovely Bones

William Shakespeare or one of his characters

Henry David Thoreau

a prophet from each religion

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

and this may sound strange, and it doesn't fit your guidelines of my body having to be in a coma, but I've always wanted to see the world through some random person's eyes and encounter or meet myself because (and this is relating to your previous Q which i hope to answer as well) I've always wondered how people percieve me or just what comes to mind when i speak or simply walk by. It's just little insignificant things like that which I am most curoious about. And even though it probably does not work out as well as being John Malkovich or Beethooven, I'd rather meet myself to get a sense of whether or not on the outside I seem like the person I've always felt like, than be anyone else

Michael Jackson

Obama

Albert Einstein

1. Hitler to see the dark side of humanity and to see what would think that extermination of jews would be justed. 2. Jesus to see the enlightened and the bright side of life. I would say God but i would imagine my brain would explode from the wisdom and stuff. 3. Charlie Sheen because he's been crazy lately and i'm just wondering what he is thinking. 4. Bill Gates to see what 1 of the richest man in the world does in his day. I didn't say warren buffet because he's old. 5. A cat because they sleep all day and after those intense days i need a good rest. 6. Deadmau5 just to see him in action and record in a day. 7. I'd finish the week off with Lights Poxleitner my favorite artist.

Sunday: Adolf Eichmann (not to sound morbid)

Monday: My older sister

Tuesday: FDR

Wednesday: W B Yeats

Thursday: Abdul-hamid Kishk

Friday: Santiago Ramón y Cajal (or any other neuroscientist)

Saturday: Aisha bint al-Siddiq

I'm sure it was simply an accident, but you forgot about leap weeks; weeks with the eighth day, Zetzday. I'd choose Dr Seuss for that one.

I'll give a reason for each when I have more time :)

1. This may sound boring, but my boyfriend would be one.

2. Then my dog, Ollie. Really want to know what's going on up there.

3. Then Barack Obama, I don't live in America but still. Curious!

4. Then Lady Gaga, I really admire her. Would love to.

5. Then this boy in one of my classes -- everyone think's he is going to be a serial killer, because he doesn't like to talk to people and gives these really dreepy looks. I want to know why.

6. My Gandmother, she was an alcoholic and she died before I was born from alcohol poisoning.

7. Bill Gates. I would love to know how he does it!

Star for you, one of the best questions i've ever seen!

I'd like to see through my wifes eyes for a day. I've spent the last 16 years guessing what she wanted it would be nice to really KNOW for once.

I would certainly love that. I will try not to give a cheesy answer, because I know, really, that, for one whole week, I would love to live the life of my crush, because he seems to have the "perfect" life, but I am hesitant to actually say that, as that's the cheesy, non-intellectualy answer, and in the forty-five minutes I have before classes start, I'll try to answer this question as best I can, and as intellectually I can. I won't list who I would want to be for each day, but I'll say who I would want to be, in no specific order.

For one, I would want to be, whomever existed that was put into a position like this, but I would want to spend a day or two in the life of a teenage male, who is a closet gay, with a minister for a father. I am currently writing a story based on that, and the writing is a challenge, and I feel that if I knew what it was like to have a minister for a father, I would be able to write my book much easier than I am now. Now, I'm resorting to asking questions on this website to get information on the life of a minister. Experincing the life of a closet gay, with a minister for a father, who preaches about homosexuality being wrong would make me appreciate more the parents I have, and the friends I have, and, selfishly, it would help me launch my career in writing.

Secondly, I would want to spend a day in the life of my grandfather, Murray, from whom I get my fantastic, unique, lovely first name. I have never met Murray, as he passed away before my birth, but he sounded like he was a great man. He was a doctor, and I always wanted to be a doctor, so I would want to know what being a doctor is like. He raised six kids, one of which is my father, and I always wanted to know what it was like to have kids. In addition, he was a very pious Christian man, and spending a day in the life of him would allow me to know what a religious Christian feels about homosexuality, which would also help with my story.

Thirdly, I would want to see the world through a Holocaust survivor. I know this might be in very bad taste, and I do sincerely apologize if I have offended anyone who is or knows a Holocaust survivor, but I don't think you can ever appreciate the turmoil someone has gone through unless you were by their side through the turmoil. Thus, completely and whole-heartedly understanding to the best that I can the terror people went through during the Holocaust, I would want to see the events through the eyes of a Holocaust survivor. Yes, I can read first-hand documents written by Holocaust survivors, but seeing it first hand will let me understand to the fullest extent how painful the Holocaust was. Again, I do sincerely apologize to anybody whom this offends, and I tried my hardest to write this in my greatest ability as to not offend anybody, but I have always wanted to know what it was like to be in the Holocaust. This would greatly affect me, or so I believe, as I would understand fully how painful the Holocaust was, and I'd be able to comfort those few classmates I have who have had ancestors who survived the Holocaust.

Thanks for the question.

Have a great day

♥

~Laktózu

I saw your question earlier, but I had to really think about it for a few hours to see who I would want to be for a day of a week, great to have questions like this! Here are my picks:

Sunday:

An African slave captured from his homeland, and the Middle Passage

I would want to experience that, to bring back that memory and share it with others, so that people would not think so lightly of that part of history

Monday:

Jane Austen

Would love to see how this young, inexperienced woman, trapped in a society with little opportunity for women to advance or live up to their potential, overcame all of that to write books that still move people today, in a world so different from the one she knew.

Tuesday:

Neil Armstrong

To be able to see what it was like to walk on the moon and look at Earth from outer space, it must have been one of the most moving experiences anyone has ever had.

Wednesday:

Jacques Cousteau

To explore the ocean, and dive to the deepest depths humanly possible, to see all the beautiful and strange creatures there

Thursday:

Leonardo Di Vinci the day he painted the Mona Lisa

Curious to see just who inspired that enigmatic expression, who is she? Or is it him?

Friday:

Jesus Christ

The greatest man who ever lived. What was it like for him, and to hear him speak, teach, guide

Saturday:

Maya Angelou

I admire her very much, to see what it is like to live her life, she has had such a full life, to hear some words of wisdom from her.

These are my picks.